Humidifier



June 30, 1959 A E. ARMSTRONG HUMIDIFIER Filed May 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet1 I. w W m J E m H a m June 30, 1959 A. E. ARMSTRONG HUMIDIFIER 2Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed May 7, 1956 IN V EN TOR flaw/27 f. firms/700 a A? ///a/v7z/ UnitedStates Patent HUlVIIDIFlER Adam E. Armstrong, Three Rivers, Mich.,assignor to Armstrong Machine Works, Three Rivers, Mich.

Application May 7, 1956, Serial No. 583,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 261-15) Objects relating to details and economies of theinvention will appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a humidifier embodyingmy invention partially in section on a line corresponding to line 11 inFig. 2, the water tank being indicated in released or detached positionby dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical sectionillustrating the relationship of the reaches of the heating coil and thesupports therefor.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a rectangular bedplate 1 having downturned border flanges 2. This bed plate is supportedby legs 3 disposed at the corners thereof. These legs are desirably ofangle section and disposed with their angles facing inwardly. The bedplate constitutes a support for various elements as will appear from thefollowing description.

The tank 4 is desirably formed of stainless steel or other noncorrodiblemetal and is also rectangular and is dimensioned to fit within theflanges 2 so that the bed plate 1 constitutes a top for the tank.

The tank is provided with threaded supporting bolts 5 disposed at thecorners thereof and arranged through holes 6 in the bed plate to receivethe supporting nuts 7, desirably wing nuts. With this arrangement thetank can be readily secured in place and may be lowered as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1 for the purpose of cleaning or repairing orrenewal of parts housed in the tank.

The water inlet valve designated generally by the numeral 8 and itsactuating float 9 are housed within the tank. The bed plate is providedwith an opening 1% through which the valve is disposed. The valve issupported and the opening 141 closed by the plate like closure member 11removably secured over the opening by means of the bolts 12. The waterinlet pipe 13 is connected to the valve 8.

The coil 14 in this illustrated embodiment is formed of tubing foldedZigzag into a plurality of parallel reaches 15. These reaches aredisposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, the groups beingindicated by the numeral 16 (see Fig. 2) there being four groups in the2,892,621 Ce Patented June 30, 19 59 embodiment illustrated. The inletend 17 of the coil is connected to the coupling 18 on the bed plate, thesupply pipe 19 being connected to this coupling. This supply pipe isprovided with a pump 20 for forced circulation of water through the coilto its discharge 21 which is connected to the coupling 23 on the bedplate, the re turn pipe 24 is connected to this coupling 23.

The source of hot water is not illustrated as it may be a hot waterboiler, hot water heater, or a special heater as may be desired orconvenient for a particular installation.

The float 9 determines the level of the water in the tank. At one endthe bed plate has a discharge opening 25 therein surrounded by anupstanding collar 26 which receives the lower end of the discharge hood.27 to which the air delivery conduit 28 is connected.

0n the other hand of the top plate I mount a blower 29 discharging intothe tank through the opening 30 in the bed plate. The pump 20 and theblower 29 are driven by electric motors, which are not illustrated asblowers and pumps provided with motors are commercially available units.

31 represents a humidistat control switch. This is conventionallyillustrated as humidistat control switches are also commerciallyavailable as units. The humidistat switch unit is suitably located in ahumidified space and acts to simultaneously close and open the circuitindicated at 32 which controls the pump and the blower. While in thisembodiment illustrated the bed plate is provided with legs it is desiredto point out that in certain installations, it is desirable to suspendthe bed plate by means of hangers.

In Fig. 3 I illustrate a highly practical support for the coil, whichcomprises U-shaped hangers 33, disposed adjacent the ends of the reachesof the coil, the arms of the hangers being provided with laterallyturned ends 34 secured to the underside of the top or bed plate 1 bybolts 35. The bottom row of reaches is supported on the horizontalportions 36 of the hangers and retained against lateral shifting by therods 37 which have upwardly oifset seats 38 engaging the tops of thereaches; The ends of this tie rod 37 are arranged through holes providedtherefor in the uprights or arm portions of the hangers. The otherseries of reaches are supportedby the supporting rods 39 having seats 40therein. The reaches of the coils supported by the supports 39 are heldin their seats by the tie rods 42. The ends of the supports 39 and thetie rods are engaged in holes 41 provided therefor in the hangeruprights, as is shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement effectively supportsthe various reaches of the coil in proper relation so that the coil andhangers constitute a unit for installing and for removal, shouldoccasion require.

In operation the air is circulated across the surface of the heatedwater and moisture is picked up and mixed with the air dischargedthrough the dischargeconduit. The moisture is in completely evaporatedor vapor form, that is, there are no water droplets. The vapor is ineffect distilled water so no deposits are carried by the air. v Thehumidistat is set for the desired humidity, -forexample, certain medicalauthorities recommend 30 to 40% rela tive humidity for home or oificespace. Higher or lower percentage or degrees of humidity may bedesirable for other spaces. A desirable water temperature @isjin therange of to degrees. g i

I have illustrated and described a highly satisfactory commercialembodiment of my invention. It have not attemped to describe otherembodimentslo'r adaptations as it is believed that thisdisclos'ure':will enable those skilled in the art to embody my inventionas may be desired. v T 6 Having thus described 'the invention, what isclaimed asnew and is desired "to'be secured by Letters Patent is:

'1. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardlyprojecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of indwardlyfacing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coilsupendingly mounted .on the underside of said bed plate and formed of acontinuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongatedreaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spacedgroups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower of said groups, anoutlet connection to the upper of said groups, a rectangular tank openat the top and dimensioned to removably fit and disposed within theflanges of said bed plate with its corners within the angles of saidlegs, said tank being provided with supporting bolts disposed throughsaid bed plate for detachably securing the tank to the bed plate toenclose said heating coil, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float'operatively associated with said inlet valve, a supporting plate forsaid inlet valve and float, said bed plate having an opening thereinadapted to receive said valve, an air discharge conduit mounted on saidbed plate and opening to said tank at one end and above the water levelthereof, and a blower mounted on said bed plate to discharge to the tankat the other end and above the water level thereof.

2. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardlyprojecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of inwardlyfacing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coilsuspendingly mounted on the underside of said bed plate and formed of acontinuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongatedreaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spacedgroups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower of said groups, anoutlet connection to the upper of said groups, a rectangular tank openat the top and dimensioned to removably fit and disposed within theflanges of said bed plate with its corners within the angles of saidlegs, said tank being provided with supporting bolts disposed throughsaid bed plate for detachably securing the tank to the bed plate toenclose said heating coil, a water inlet valve for said tank, a floatoperatively associated with said inlet valve, an air discharge conduitopening to said tank at one end and above the water level thereof, and ablower discharging to the tank at the other end and above the waterlevel thereof.

3. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardlyprojecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of inwardlyfacing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coilsuspendingly mounted on the underside of said bed plate and formed of acontinuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongatedreaches, hot water inlet and outlet connections for said coil, arectangular tank open at the top and dimensioned to removably fit anddisposed within the angles of said legs, said tank being provided withsupporting bolts disposed through said bed plate for detachably securingthe tank to the bed plate to enclose said heating coil, a water inletvalve for said tank carried by said bed plate, a float operativelyassociated with said inlet valve and carried by said bed plate, an airdischarge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said tank atone end and above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted on saidbed plate to discharge to the tank at the other end and above the waterlevel thereof.

:4. .In combination, a bed plate, a continuous conduit zigzag folded toprovide a plurality of elongated parallel reaches, said reaches beingdisposed in a plurality of verticallyspaced groups, there being a hotwater connection for the lower of the groups and an outlet connectionfor the upper of the groups, laterally spaced hangers comprisinghorizontal members and uprights detachably connected to the underside ofthe bed plate, the lower group of reaches being supportedly positionedupon the .hori- 4 zontal member of the said hangers, supporting rods forthe other groups of reaches provided with spaced seats for the reaches,tie rods arranged above such series of reaches to hold the reacheswithin their seats, a tie rod for the lower series of reaches havingdownwardly facing seats therein engaging the reaches of the lowerseries, said uprights being provided with holes through which the endsof said supports and tie rods are disposed, and a tank open at the topdetachably mounted on the underside of said bed plate independently ofsaid hangers.

5. In combination, a bed plate, a continuous conduit zigzag folded toprovide a plurality of elongated parallel reaches, said reaches beingdisposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, laterally spacedhangers comprising horizontal members and uprights detachably connectedto the underside of the bed plate, the lower group of reaches beingsupportedly positioned upon the horizontal members of the said hangers,supports for the other groups of reaches, tie rods arranged above theseries of reaches to hold the reaches in spaced relation upon theirsupports, said uprights being provided with holes through which the endsof said supports and tie rods are disposed, and a tank open at the topremovably mounted on the under side of said bed plate independently ofsaid hangers and said coil.

6. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate, means for supportingsaid bed plate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed belowand supportedly mounted on the said bed plate in downwardly spacedrelation thereto and formed of a continuous conduit zigzag folded toprovide a plurality of elongated reaches extending longitudinallyrelative to said bed plate, said reaches being disposed in a pluralityof verticallyspaced groups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower ofsaid groups and an outlet connection to the upper of said groups, arectangular tank open at the top disposed below and removably mounted onthe under side of said bed plate to enclose said heating coil andcoacting with said bed plate to provide a chamber, a water inlet valvefor said tank, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve andtank to control the level of the Water in the tank and provide an airand vapor chamber above the water level, a supporting plate on whichsaid inlet valve and float are mounted to constitute an assembled unit,said bed plate having an opening therein through which said float andvalve may be introduced into and removed from said chamber, saidsupporting plate constituting a closure for said opening, an airdischarge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said chamberat one end and above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted onsaid bed plate to discharge into the chamber at its other end and abovethe water level thereof.

7. A humidifier comprising a bed plate, means for supporting said bedplate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed below andsupportedly mounted on the said bed plate in downwardly spaced relationthereto, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spacedgroups, a hot water outlet connection to a tank open at the top disposedbelow and removably mounted on the under side of said bed plate toenclose said heating coil and coacting with said bed plate to provide achamber, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float operativelyassociated with said inlet valve and tank to control the level of thewater in the tank, a supporting plate on which said inlet valve andfloat are mounted to constitute an assembled unit, said bed plate havingan opening therein through which said float and valve may be introducedinto and removed from said chamber, said supporting plate constituting aclosure for said opening, an air discharge conduit mounted on said bedplate and opening to said chamber above the water level thereof, and ablower mounted on said bed plate to discharge into the chamber .abovethe water level .thereof and .in spaced relation to .said outlet.

8. 9A humidifier comprising a bed plate, .means for supporting said bedplate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed below andsupportedly mounted on said bed plate in downwardly spaced relationthereto, hot water inlet and outlet connections to said coil, a tankopen at the top disposed below and removably mounted on the under sideof said bed plate to enclose said heating coil and coacting with saidbed plate to provide a chamber, a water inlet valve for said tank, afloat operatively associated with said inlet valve and tank to controlthe level of the water in the tank and provide an air and vapor chamberabove the water level, a supporting plate on which said inlet valve andfloat are mounted to constitute an assembled unit, said bed plate havingan opening therein through which said float and valve may be introducedinto and removed from said chamber, 15 2,730,340

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,720,768 Spreen July 16, 1929 1,852,363 Parent Apr. 5, 1932 1,948,647Brunt Feb. 27, 1934 2,236,359 Armstrong Mar. 25, 1941 2,536,404 WalkerJan. 2, 1951 Patriarca Jan. 10, 1956

